AUBURN HILLS -- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a spot-up 3-pointer. Next attempt, he made another. In between, he played solid positional defense.

The Detroit Pistons' rookie shooting guard, selected No. 8 overall in the June draft, has yet to look out of place since training camp began this week.

The people who matter most have noticed.

"He's not showing one bit of nervousness when he's out there playing," point guard Brandon Jennings said. "It's like he's been here before. Guys want spots. Guys want playing time. This right here is how you earn it."

Head coach Maurice Cheeks said Caldwell-Pope, "has a poise about him that, when he plays, he doesn't get stressed out, he doesn't get nervous."

Cheeks, one day after saying he would use multiple starters at shooting guard during preseason, said the ultimate decision probably comes down to Caldwell-Pope or seventh-year veteran Rodney Stuckey.

Caldwell-Pope and Stuckey have gone hard at each other in early scrimmages and have had friendly discussions about the competition, the Georgia rookie said.

"It's fun. We laugh about it, we joke about it," Caldwell-Pope said. "At the same time, we're also serious about it, because we are playing for the same position. It's great to compete against someone who's been here, who's older than me. It's a great challenge."

Caldwell-Pope's disadvantages in youth and experience against Stuckey could be alleviated by his advantage in perimeter shooting touch. Both are solid defenders but Caldwell-Pope also brings a shot-blocking element.

If the Pistons' decision on a starter hinges on alleviating the spacing issues caused by the big front line of Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and Josh Smith, Caldwell-Pope may have the edge.

"When I'm on the floor with them, it's easy to find open spots because they draw a lot of attention," Caldwell-Pope said.

Much of that attention will be focused on a potentially clogged lane, which also could affect Stuckey, a career 29-percent 3-point shooter whose offensive game relies largely on penetration.

"I think I'm a good shooter, so that's an advantage to me," Caldwell-Pope said.

With Stuckey on an expiring contract, it also benefits the Pistons from a business standpoint if Caldwell-Pope can win the job, save for whatever impact it could have on Stuckey's trade value.

Even in Orlando Pro Summer League, when Caldwell-Pope struggled with his shot early, the other thing that stood out was his defensive effort.

"He just kind of stays within himself, shoots the ball when he has an open shot, and the one constant about him is he plays defense," Cheeks said. "He plays hard, he runs the floor, he does a lot of things well."